NFL concludes investigation of Reuben Foster by restoring him to Redskins’ roster

Updated Apr 12, 2019; Posted Apr 12, 2019

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster on the sideline during an NFL preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 30, 2018, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)Getty Images

The NFL restored Reuben Foster to the Washington Redskins’ active roster on Friday after he’d been on the Commissioner Exempt List since Nov. 27.

The NFL put the former Alabama All-American on the Commissioner Exempt List after he was arrested in Tampa, Florida, on Nov. 24. That prevented Foster from playing in the Redskins’ final five games of the 2018 season.

Tampa Police arrested Foster in Florida at the San Francisco 49ers’ team hotel the night before the NFL team’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Elissa Ennis told police that Foster had knocked her phone from her hand, pushed her in the chest and slapped her in the face.

The day before Foster's scheduled arraignment in Hillsborough, Florida, on one misdemeanor count of first-degree domestic battery on Jan. 3, the State Attorney's Office dismissed the charge and filed a notice of termination of prosecution.

In announcing an end to its investigation on Friday, the NFL said: "The evidence did not support a finding that Foster violated the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy in connection with the Tampa incident in November 2018."

Foster did not escape punishment, though.

The NFL said the inside linebacker would be fined two game checks after “an assessment of his adherence to obligations arising from previous violations of league policies.” Two game checks for Foster would total $151,340 based on his 2019 salary of $1.286 million.

The NFL also said Foster "has committed to a comprehensive accountability plan developed by the league, the NFLPA and the Washington Redskins to help him grow personally and avoid future misconduct. Foster was advised that any future incidents will likely result in more substantial discipline."

In a statement released by the Redskins, Foster said: “I am grateful to the Washington Redskins and the NFL for giving me this second chance. I appreciate the support I have received from the league, my team and my union to help me succeed. I want to thank Commissioner (Roger) Goodell for the time that he has spent with me and for his understanding of me as a person. I accept the NFL’s decision and want to say that I am truly sorry for my past actions and the people who may have been hurt by them. Going forward, I will follow the plan outlined for me and work hard to earn back the trust of my teammates, the NFL, NFL fans and the community. I know that my success is all up to me, and I am committed to not letting you down.”

On Jan. 12, 2018, Foster was arrested in Tuscaloosa and charged with second-degree possession of marijuana. The marijuana charge was dismissed in May after Foster participated in a pretrial diversion program.

On Feb. 11, 2018, Foster was arrested and charged with felony domestic violence, forcefully attempting to prevent a victim from reporting a crime and possession of an assault weapon in Los Gatos, California. As with Foster's November arrest, Elissa Ennis was the woman involved in the February incident.

On May 23, a judge dismissed the first two of those charges after Ennis testified she had fabricated her claims against Foster. In December, Ennis told ABC’s “Good Morning, America” that she was lying when she’d said she was lying and that the February incident occurred as she’d told the police initially.

Foster pleaded no contest to unlawful possession of an assault weapon on June 6. He was sentenced to two years of probation with 30 days on a sheriff’s work program, which was waived to allow Foster to perform 240 hours of community service instead. Foster also had to pay $235 in fines and fees and surrender the gun.

The 49ers stood behind Foster through those incidents. But San Francisco released him after his arrest in November. That allowed Washington to claim him off the league’s waiver wire.

The Redskins will begin their offseason program on Monday, and the NFL said Foster "may fully participate in all team activities."

In a statement released by the Redskins, team president Bruce Allen said: "Everyone in this league is held to a higher standard. Reuben understands that his past actions have led a lot of people to doubt him, and he has committed to doing the work necessary to earn the trust of his teammates, our great fans and the NFL.

"The Redskins have put in place a comprehensive responsibility-and-accountability plan to help Reuben be successful on and off the field. Elements of this plan include individual counseling, a structured living arrangement, weekly meetings with the club player-engagement director, weekly meetings with our team chaplain and targeted community-service engagements.

“We have been very clear with Reuben that his past does not have to determine his future -- but the responsibility is squarely on him to change. Reuben must fully adhere to the plan we have developed for him. Reuben knows that we simply will not tolerate any future conduct that is detrimental to the Washington Redskins organization or to the NFL.”

Foster was Alabama's Class 6A Lineman of the Year for the 2012 season at Auburn High School. He won the Butkus Award as the nation's best collegiate linebacker in 2016 at Alabama.

Foster entered the NFL with the 49ers as the 31st player picked in the 2017 draft. Foster missed six of San Francisco’s first eight games during his rookie season because of the injuries. He still finished second on the team in tackles and earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie team.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

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